Baseball game



F. H. FREDETTE BASEBALL GAME Filed Nov. e.' 1924 SINGLE .2. RUN

ifm in Feb. 2 1926.

Freette TORNEY INVENTOR BYZ/ M4 g Patented Feb. 2, 1926.

. AUNITED .srArEs FRANK H. FREDETTE', OF NEWARK', NEW JERSEY.

BASEBALL GAME.

Application ledNovember 6, 1924. Serial No. 748,124.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that l, FRANK H. Fnnnn'r'rr., a citizen et the United States, residing 1n the city of Newark, county of Essex, and State of Newl Jersey, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in BaseballvGames, of which the following is a specification.`

My invention relates to an improved baseball game or toy wherein an imitation of a baseball field is providedwhich simulates as closely as practicable, a baseball field. It also contemplates the use of pivoted and shiftable manikins representing the players on the field, each player Abeing so formed as to be able to catch and retain a ball of suit able size which may be driven around the field; and also means whereby the ball may be supported upon the arms of the manikin playery andfby a slight Hip of the body of the inanikin is caused to be thrown about the baseballield as from the pitcherto the catcher or from one player' to another.

A pivoted bat ismounted in close proximity to the home plate and `is operated by one'person while the ball is manipulated by his opponent through the meansofthe manikin player. In the `accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification,

Fig. 1 represents a plan view of the improved baseball game showing the edges as extended in the plane of the game board.

Fig. 2 illustrates a :front elevation of one of `the manikin players in blank form before bending the arms and supporting base.

Fig. 3 illustrates a side elevation of the side showing the position of the ball if caught beneath the arms of the manikin player and also dotted lines showing the ball in position to be thrown bythe manikin player.

Fig. 4 illustrates the manikin with arms and supporting base properly bent, and piv oted to the field Fig. 5 represents a fractional side elevation of a lman-ikin player representing the catcher. This inanikin is designed to be shiftedfrom a point atthe rearv to a-point immediately at the rig-ht of thehome! base and infront of the batters stand.

Fig. 6 is a plan elevation of the pivotedi bat;

Fig. `'7 is a side view of the bat, and lits support.

Similar reference numeralsrefer to 'like partsfthroughoutthe specification and draw"- ing.,

The game consistspof` a shallow straw board box 1 of suitable size having the interior bottom laid out `in the form and also the pitchers stand 3 near the center of the field. The manikin players l are distributed about the iield' in substantiallythe same manner as base ball players in the regular game. Marks 5 representing the coachers boxes are also shown near the 1st and 8rd bases. A series of index circles 6 with index pointers pivotally mounted thereon are shown outside of the diamond and arranged from a point adjacent to the 3rd base to the vicinity of the catchers station.

These index circles are marked to indicate the home team the visitors, the innings,"strikes and outs and men on bases. The out lield `fences 7, 8, in addition to the usual spaces for advertisingmatter are also marked to indicate-the value of the various hits 4 when the ball is driven within the spaces indicated; for example: when the-ball is driven outside of the foul line, it isindicated on the fence by the wordA Foul A ball striking the fence at 9 is vconsidered a three-base hit. Next, near thestation ofthe center fielder is a vspace marked Single indicatinga one-base hit.

In the corner diagonally opposite the catchers station is a space marked Home run followed'by marks indicating a two base hit, a single, and a foul.

The manikins representing the players are stamped out in the blank of sheet Vmetal as indicated at 10 4in Fig. 2, and are painted or colored in simulation of the regu"- lar players as indicated. The supporting base orsupporting the inanikins in an upright position is formed by an extensionll on thefeet as shown in Fig. 2, which extension is bentbackwardly as shown in Fig.` 3 and riveted to the bottom of the box'by a tubularV rivet 12, through the. Washer 13 in such a manner that theplayer can be swunglaround to face difil'erentdirectionsin the field.`

The 4arms 140i Athe manikins are bentV forwardly and slightly upwardly inclined as indicatednFig. The ball "15 usedin the game is a small rubber ball of suitablezsi'ze to be caught" and frictionally held 'when rolled beneath the `arms ofthemanikin yas indicated in Fig. 3; The ball may alsoV rest upon the arms of the manikin as;V indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 3 and whenthehead ofA the' manikin is dravcfnr back as shownv in dotted lines and allowed to spring forward, the ball' will be projected away from the manikin with considerable speed force.'

Adjacent the home plate 16 is located a low standard 17, the base 18 of which is firmly riveted to the bottom of the box. Upon the upper end of the standard is pivoted a guard the home plate from base runners,

the 1 manikinQO representing the catcher, while in. all respects the samerin form and shape astheV other players, isnot pivoted to the bottom of the box. Two 'separate keepers 21, 22 of arcuateV form as shown are respectively secured, one at the rear of the home plate, and the other at the front of the battersstation. vIn ordinaryrplay the catcher is placed with its foot-extension 11 beneath the keeper 21 to receive pitched balls; However, whenl the ball is in the field, the catcher may be shifted to the keeper 22 to' receive the ball from any fielder andy thereby vcut ofi' whatjwould be a run7 or score. y v

In playing the game one person representstheins vand the other the outs. The person representingthe inswill manipulate the bat .-whilethe p erson representing the outs will have charge of the ball 15. The balll is first placed upon the arms of tliemanikin representing the pitcher and the body of the manikin di'awn rearwardly and then released driving the hall toward the catchers station. yThe other person endeavors to strike the ball by whirling the bat. Should the ball bemissed completely, the play becomes a strike. Should the hat strike the ball and drive it into the field and itis caught b v one of the outfielders, this play beiugcalled out on a fiy. .Should .it be caught by one of the infielders .and rsuch infielder be shifted so as to throw the ball to and be caughtby the 1st basemainthe play is Considered as out on firstfand so onA througlifthe whole category of plays. If, however, the ball shouldescapc the hands of both an .infielder and outfielder and stiike the out field fence within any of the marked spaces, the batter is credited witha hit of the value as indicated upon thespace. The regular baseball rules, so far as they can be made to `appl v,areused in playing thegame which becomes agame of science with the l elementi-,of chance largely removed therefrom.

4 Ghanges: inaminor. details A. of; construction are conteiiiplatedland areiintended tobe covered vbythe yaccompanying claims.

v (Halimiif/ A 'f 1.y Ina baseball game,`the"combination of agboard havingamarginal barrier thereon,

a miniature baseball diamond laid out upon said board, manikin players distributed about said diamond in the usual stations occupied by such players, each` player being movably secured in the station whereby said player may be faced in the direction of any other player on the field, each of said players having means for catching and holding` a miniature ball, and also means for flipping said ball away from said player.

2. In a baseball game, the combination of a square board having a marginal barrier, and a miniature baseball diamond laid out thereon, Vwith manikin players distributed about said diamond iii the stations usually occupied by such players, one of said players being detachably located in the eatchers station and shiftably therefrom to a station at the side of the home plate and the remainder of said players being pivot-ally mounted iii their respective stations, whereby each player may be faced in the direction of any other player.

3. In a .baseball game, the combination of a square board marked to simulate a baseball field, and having a marginal barrier surrounding the same, said barrier having mai-ks thereon to indicate the Ivalue of ce1'- tain plays upon the field, manikin players suitably vdistributed about said field, one of said players being shiftably located adjacent to the home plate, andeach ofthe remaining players being' pivotally mounted in their i particular station onthe field and capable ofv facing in any direction, said players having meansV for propelling a ball, and means on said players for receiving a ball.

4. In a baseball game, the combination of a board marked tosimulate a baseball field, with a plurality of maiiikin players pivotally mounted upon said board,'each player foi-ined from sheet metal blanked to shape, andnhaviiig a foot extension bent at right angles to the-body thereof, and arms also extendiiigffrom the body at aslightly'up! wardly inclined anglev whereby said foot eX- teiision may be utilized to secure theplayer iii-its station and said inclined arms utilized to support a. ball thereon 0r to catch and hold a-ball therebeneath.

In a baseball game, a manikin blanked to shape from sheet metal and marked to represent a baseball player,l said manikin havinga foot extension bent at right'angles tothe body thereof to form ay supporting base, and having arms bent forwardly and slightly inclined above the horizontal to form a ball supporting'andaball catching means.y i 'f 6. In a baseball game, a manikin blanked from sheetmetal tosimulate a baseball player, said manikin having forwardly and upwardly inclined arms forming ballsupportingand kball catching means,l and afoot extension whereby said manikin may be either pivotally or detachably secured to a game board.

7. In a baseball game, a manikin blanke-d from spring sheet metal to simulate a baseball. player, and having,- its arms forwardly bent and slightly inclined from the horizontal, means for securing the feet of the manilin to a game board, whereby when the head of said manikin is forcibly drawn back and suddenly released a ball resting,` upon said arms will be projected away from said manikin.

8. In a baseball game, the combinationot a game board havingy its upper surface marked to simulate a baseball field, manikins blanked from sheet metal and marked to simulate baseball players, said manikins each having a foot extension bent at right angles thereto to form a supporting base, a

keeper' located upon said board at the rear of the home plate, a second keeper located upon said board at the side of the home plate whereby the manikin representing the catcher may be shifted 'from one of said keepers to the other as demanded in the progress of the game, with said foot eXtension extended beneath the corresponding keeper, the other manikins beingr suitably distributed about the field and each pivotally secured in their respective stations by their Ytoot extensions each of said manikins having its arms forwardly bent and upwardly inclined to form a support -for a ball thereon and means for catching a ball therebeneath, and a metal bat piVota-lly mounted upon a standard adjacent to the home plate.

FRANK H. FREDETTE. 

